How to Make a Long Distance Relationship Work

I’ve been with the same guy for four years. Two of those years he was in college and every summer he was in Idaho visiting his mom. Long distance relationships have become a fact of life for me, but it doesn’t change how hard they are.

It has, however, taught me how to handle them a little bit easier. If your significant other is across the pond, or just across town, these tips will help make your long distance relationship easier.

Text often, but not too often.

Communication is the most important aspect of a relationship, but you need to find the right balance that won’t drown your significant other. While conversations are good between one another, you need to make sure you’re not overreaching or crossing

boundaries. If your significant other is at a party, let them enjoy the party, and don’t ask who is there and every detail of the night.

Make time for Facetime.

Facetime, Skype, and Google Hangout are long distance relationship lifesavers. I’ll be honest, it sucks not being able physically be in contact, but seeing their face just makes it so much easier. That’s also when you can have your long conversations that don’t always work over text.

“I hope these help…It may not get rid of all the “missing you” heartache, but it will at least make things a little bit easier.”

The best way to make this work is to plan a specific time (or window of time) to talk each day. My boyfriend and I normally did after 10:00pm, but some couples have planned for between 7:00 and 9:00pm. Find a time where the two of you are free during the day, and commit that time to seeing their face, or talking on the phone, even if it’s just for five minutes.

Plan to have activities together.

I know that sounds totally crazy, “they’re so far away, how are we going to do activities together?” Well, there is this wonderful feature on Skype were you can share your computer screen with someone and stream a movie together. Also, there is this lovely website called lovingfromadistance.com where they offer fun online multiplayer games such as Monopoly, Scrabble, and Poker for couples to play together.

If any way possible, try and visit each other.

Even if you guys have to meet halfway, try to make time to physically be together. If it’s not possible until they come back from whatever excursion they’re doing, plan an all-day date just the two of you.

“Long distance relationships have become a fact of life for me, but it doesn’t change how hard they are.”

Write letters to one another.

Yeah, yeah, I know, it’s pretty old school, and why bother when you can just text? But, writing letters to my boyfriend made the pain of him being away a whole lot easier. Whenever I was writing a letter I was going to send to him, it felt like I was sitting with him and having a conversation, and the best part was, he kept every letter, which showed me he was listening. This can also be a good substitute if you’re unable to visit. I found that every time I got a letter from my boyfriend it felt like a piece of him was visiting me.

Send small gifts

It can be as simple as a “thinking of you” card, or a teddy bear. If your significant other is in college, maybe send them some nonperishable foods, or gift cards for coffee, but nothing so expensive that your partner feels that they can’t reciprocate.

I hope these help, especially with Valentine’s Day being today.

It may not get rid of all the “missing you” heartache, but it will at least make things a little bit easier. What has helped you in a long distance relationship?